Run-off-road collisions represent a mere 16% of all crashes according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Shockingly, however, these accidents account for roughly one in every three fatal crashes in the United States. Here’s a closer look at what typically causes run-off-road collisions, what you can do to avoid this type of collision , and what to do if you are ever in one.

Attempting to Avoid a Collision

Many drivers end up in run-off-road collisions when they are attempting to avoid another vehicle, a person, or an animal in the road. To reduce the chances of this happening to you, avoid speeding and be extra careful when you are taking blind turns and driving near a steep drop off.

Taking a Turn Too Quickly

Though many new vehicles are equipped with electronic stability control systems that sense a loss of control and apply braking power to keep the car on track, this will not prevent all run-off-road collisions. Rather, it’s most important to be cautious when you enter a turn at night, when the weather is bad, or when you are not completely familiar with the turn.

Loss of Vehicle Control

This can be the result of many different bad driving habits. Make sure that you are inflating your tires to the manufacturer-recommended levels and that you are replacing your tires when the tread gets too low. Furthermore, be sure that you are staying alert when operating a vehicle; don’t text and drive, and tell you passengers that you cannot be distracted, especially at high speeds.

At Michael J’s Body Shop, we offer collision repair services that will restore your car to excellent condition. Call us at (408) 279-2070 if you have any questions for our staff, and visit us on the web to see why we are the preferred body shop of San Jose .

Maintaining proper following distance is one of the best ways to reduce your chances of getting into a car collision. Fortunately, there are some easy rules to remember that can help you maintain the appropriate distance between you and the car in front of you. Here are a few “following rules” that will help you avoid a collision .

Three-Second Rule

The standard distance that should be maintained between you and the car in front of you is approximately three seconds. If you are traveling at 25 miles per hour, this amounts to 111 feet. If you are traveling at 65 miles per hour, the distance will be more like 288 feet. If you’re following this rule and the car in front of you stops or swerves, you will have enough time to react and avoid a collision. If someone is following you at closer than two seconds, let them pass you or change lanes as soon as possible.

Six-Second Rule

There are many cases when the three-second rule doesn’t cut it. If you want to be safe in heavy traffic and during nighttime driving, it’s best to follow the six-second rule instead so that you can double the normally safe following distance and decrease the likelihood of a collision. Six seconds is also a good rule to follow if it is lightly raining or snowing or if there is light fog.

Nine-Second Rule

If the weather is exceptionally bad, it’s good to keep about nine seconds in between you and the car in front of you. It might seem excessive, but if you’re driving in heavy rain, snow, or fog, you will need all the time you can get to react in case the driver in front of you slams on the brakes or loses control of his or her vehicle.

If you were recently in a collision, let the collision repair experts at Michael J’s Body Shop get you back on the road. With two state-of-the-art body shops in San Jose , finding quality collision repair in the Bay Area is easy. Call us at (408) 279-2070 to learn more.

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Your focus on safe driving is the best defense against auto collisions . However, accidents can happen to even the best drivers. Arm yourself with information on how to better your driving skills and what to do if you ever end up in a collision by visiting these helpful links.

Distracted driving can be deadly. Distraction.gov is the US Government’s official website for combating distracted driving . Here you will find facts, laws, and information on how you can fight distracted driving.

How much is your car worth after an accident? The appraisers at AutoLoss.com discuss various factors that can cause your car to lose value over time , including unrepaired accident damage.

Do you need an alternative to aggressive driving habits? The National Safety Council offers defensive driving training , the best and safest alternative to a dangerous and illegal learned behavior.

At Michael J’s Body Shop , we can help San Jose drivers with every aspect of auto collision repair, including setting you up with an auto insurance carrier for future protection. Call us at (408) 279-2070 for more information on auto body repair, including the lifetime guarantee we offer on our work.